Monday, November 4, 2013

This week Honor turns one. Next week Guy turns *8*!!! Two weeks after that, we're hosting 20+ people in our home for Thanksgiving and the next day Guy is getting baptized!

I am so excited I can hardly sleep, and I frankly hardly have time for sleep!

Visions of all the yummy desserts that I'd like to make and all the special arrangements that need to be made are constantly dancing in my head. And I just can't wait to give my family a big fat hug on Thanksgiving day.

It's kind of hard for me to take a time out from my Thanksgiving and Baptism and Birthday prep to do this book review, but I'm going to try.

So often, I go to The Book of Mormon with questions about my life, but this book encourages us to slow down and take notice of the questions that The Book of Mormon is asking us to consider about ourselves...or rather the Lord through The Book of Mormon is asking us.

Questions like: Do you look forward with an eye of faith?

Have ye spiritually been born of God?

Can ye feel so now?

Are ye stripped of pride?

Have miracles ceased?

No matter how busy our lives are, we'd all do well to slow down and consider these questions and most especially make time to read and ponder The Book of Mormon during this season of celebration. It is this book of scripture that will help us draw closer to God.

From how many questions are asked in all of scripture to which prophet asked the most questions, "52 Life-Changing Questions from The Book of Mormon" takes a look at all of that from a scholarly but mostly applicable, down-to-earth perspective. Each chapter focuses the reader on just one question, so you can take it in bite-sized nibbles. Read it in the morning and consider the question all day or take on one question each week for a year. (That's more my speed!)

Well, I really must get to work on this fine Monday. 24 days till Thanksgiving, don't-ya-know! If you'd like a chance to WIN THIS BOOK, just leave a comment on this post.

Tell me one of the following:

1. Something you love about The Book of Mormon

2.Something you are thankful for.

3.Share some Thanksgiving/family gathering tradition or tip.

I will pick my favorite comment and announce the winner on my blog tomorrow.

89 comments:

Since I have had a little more time to myself here, I have really been enjoying your blog. While I have so much to be thankful for, this year in particular I am grateful for my husband and my children. We are living a life that is a world away from our usual routine and they have been very brave in embracing the changes and difficulties that have come about during our adventure. It has made me love them and respect them all the more!

Aww, good memories! We baptized our oldest the Saturday after Thanksgiving 3 years ago. We also had a baby blessing the next day for my 4th child. It was awesome to have all the extra family there sharing in the joy.

Sounds like an awesome book so here's my entry: I love the Book of Mormon because of the Spirit it immediately brings into my life and home when I open it up to read. I am incredibly thankful for the healthy pregnancy I am having now with our 5th child who will arrive soon. We have a lot of food traditions at Thanksgiving in our family but we are also flexible to try new things and happy to share the work load of cooking. One fun thing we did most Thanksgivings when I was a kid was to send all the young'ns bowling with Dad while the Turkey finished. I suspect my mother took a nap while we were gone.

How amazing! Another tender mercy from the Lord. A couple of weeks ago on Saturday night as I was choosing what to wear the next day, into my mind came the idea of spiritual mirrors, a way to look at ourselves to see if we looked good, in a spiritual way. I tried to think of something from the scriptures that referred to mirrors or such, but was too tired and nothing came to mind. The next day in Sacrament Meeting a member of the Stake Presidency closed the meeting with his testimony and referred to Alma 5 as a way to measure how we are doing spiritually. LIGHT BULB MOMENT! Of course, all those questions! And now I see that someone has written a book. Perfect. I love that the Book of Mormon is the handbook for our day and times. I teach our youngest two boys Seminary and together we're discovering more of its hidden treasures and answers to life's questions. I am so thankful for the gospel and for living prophets, and for the Atonement. I truly don't know how others get through life without that knowledge. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday: food, family and gratitude, what more could I want. There's no decorating, no costumes, no cards, no parties, no weeks long build up, just a wonderful day to concentrate on all that the Lord has given me, to enjoy my family and friends, and to feel joy and contentment. (And to eat all the special yummy foods!)

Something I love about the Book of Mormon... hmm, where to start?! I currently serve in the primary in our ward, and I LOVE to see the children growing their testimony of the Book of Mormon. I love in singing time, when they have the opportunity to choose a favorite song and it is Scripture Power or Search Ponder and Pray. They sing with all their little hearts and the spirit is bursting with hugeness in the room as they know - they KNOW - that the words they are singing are true.

This is something that I know too - there is an incredible power in the Book of Mormon - I need it in my life. Having words from it running through my mind help me to be a more patient and loving mom. Reading the experiences of people from long ago who had both big and little trials helps me daily to remember about keeping a larger perspective on my trials. Feeling the spirit tenderly warming my heart when I come across a passage that I need, reminds me that I AM a child of God, and he loves me and is aware of me.

I love the Book of Mormon because, in a way that is so hard to explain in words, it helps me be a better person, more like the person that my Heavenly Father knows I can be.

I love the way my life seems simpler and to flow easier when I am being diligent about reading the Book of Mormon. One of my favorite passages is in Alma 32 where the word is compared to a seed. When I read this passage I can literally feel the seed growing and expanding in my heart. It is such a testament of the truth to me. I am most thankful for the gospel in my life. This time of year always makes me thankful for families both immediate and extended. My mom's side of the family always spend Thanksgiving at my Grandma's. Her place was really small but we'd all crowd in for a weekend of fun. Friday we'd all pile into cars and head to the mall so Grandma could get a picture of us all with Santa and then we'd stop at a hotdog joint. Grandma has been gone 10 years now but we all meet at my mom and dad's the day after Thanksgiving. We find a hotdog heaven or other hotdog place to eat and then head off to get pictures with Santa of the new generation. FUN TIMES!!

Hotdog Heaven! Yes...and pictures with Santa is also something we like to do on Thanksgiving, especially now that my siblings and I mostly see each other and the cousins also only on Turkey weekend! The pictures of cousins of all ages together on Santa's lap is hysterical!

To be honest our family is really struggling with reading the Book of Mormon.I have 3 teenagers that don't seem to be that interested in reading together and I can tell that they are reaching out for something, not realizing that we all need to read the Book of Mormon together. I struggle myself with reading it and I know all the answers are there I just cannot stretch myself that extra step to get into the schedule. So I guess my post is about knowing what needs to be done that isn't getting done with reading the Book of Mormon.

A fun giveaway: a book i had been looking at to incorporate in our morning scripture study. We are currently going through "Armor up"with the boys. They love all the war and armor references.

1. The Book of Mormon brings peace not only to my, but my wild crew. It's magical.2. So thankful for the gift of the Holy Ghost. We saw for beautiful young women receive that gift yesterday and I cried thinking about the great blessing I often take for granted.3. Simplify. Simplify. It's about the people.

I was just called to teach seminary, and we are studying the Book of Mormon this year. I have been so impressed with how much love we can feel from our Father in Heaven as we study it! I LOVE IT!! And also how much hope we can have because of the Savior. I love this time of year and the opportunity we take to focus so much on our blessings. This looks like it would be a fantastic resource for me as I am teaching!

I absolutely love the Book of Mormon. I love studying it with my two teen-aged daughters. We homeschool and read it daily together. We each look for three things in one chapter to share; something we love, or something we have a question about or something we have extra insight about. It has been so much fun learning this way. I love the stories. I love the truth. I love the knowledge and doctrine.

Besides being thankful for the Book of Mormon and the gospel, I am also thankful for warm blankets. I don't like being cold. :-)

And we always hang a large poster on our front door with a pen so that we write something we are grateful for as we leave the house each time. The rule: no repetition of things we are thankful for. It's fun. We get others who come to our home involved too. :-)

1.I love the book of mormon because it shares others struggles and gives hope and insight to the reader2. I'm thankful for family those I know and those who have departed this life.3. For Thanksgiving we made folding placecards with fun turkeys on the front and a family member's name, then we pass around the cards before dinner and have everyone write down something they are thankful to that person about.

oh I like the turkey idea too... another idea I just thought of - turkey headband headdresses and each feather are things people are thankful for concerning the person wearing the headdress... at dinner you will be able to look around at all your little turkeys and be reminded of why they're so awesome!

I am thankful we have the Book of Mormon that helps guide us in this life that is so full of so many falsehoods and so many yelling their opinion. But we have the Book of Mormon that helps us know the truths admist all the lies.

I love the Book of Mormon, I love that every time I read it I find something new, I love that I can find something in the Book of Mormon easier every time I read it. I love The Book of Mormon and the promises found within it are a constant aid in my life. The Book of Mormon Rocks!

I have to admit its been so long ago, i cant remember how i found your blog, but oh am i so happy that i did! I LOVE everything you write. I check your blog daily for all your inspirations! Does that sound a bit stalker-ish? :) Being a young mom your words seem as though they are directly meant just for me. I am so very very grateful for the Book of Mormon. My family and i have been through some hard times and during those times we rarely did family scripture time or personal study, a time we really should have taken the oppurtunity to read, to teach our children. We needed to make a change. This year my family and i made a goal to read the book of mormon every night. We set a goal for at least one chapter and every night we have met that goal. It s hard to describe the love and closeness we feel as a family. The wonderful, sweet spirit in our home is so unbelievably powerful it amazes me. Sure, trials and hardships have not avoided us but we have armies of angels looking out for us. Its a lesson that we have not only learned but that we live every single day. And will continue to teach in our home. My husband and i want our children to know how safe, how precious, how loved they are. And what an incredible blessing the gospel is in our lives and the tremendous gift we have all been given through receiving the Book of Mormon. I believe my most favorite blessing has come from looking in my two sons blue eyes as they beg for us to read the scriptures and how they remind us every night before bed that we must always read the scriptures. I can see that this 4 and 2 year old of mine already cherishes these words and has such an extraordinary faith and love for the gospel. Those boys have taught me so much. I am so entirely grateful for the gift of the Book of Mormon. I look forward to so many more wonderful memories and lessons shared and built through reading those sacred and precious words.

Tell me one of the following:1. Something you love about The Book of MormonOh where to begin. I love how when I'm reading the Book of Mormon I have an easier time keeping the right perspective on the things that matter most. I love the power it gives to me to make good choices and be better!

2.Something you are thankful for.I'm super thankful for popcorn. I thought I'd do a silly thankful thing and that's why I'm going with that. I can't imagine life without my homemade popcorn. My family love it when I make a batch and we play games or watch a movie. It makes them all feel happy and brings us together and it's delicious too!

3.Share some Thanksgiving/family gathering tradition or tip.One thing I wish I'd started when my husband and I got married - I wish I had gotten a cream or light colored tablecloth for our Thanksgiving table and then had everybody at the table write down what they're thankful for on the tablecloth -by now that table cloth would be so full and would be so fun to look back and read the previous things. A food tip - Thanksgiving isn't right unless we have orange dinner rolls with the meal. YUM! Oh also if you want to make a delicious pumpkin pie - you follow the directions on the Libby's can - but you add an extra egg, 1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg and 1/4 cup of normal milk.... your pie will be creamier, lighter, more flavorful and excellent!

Oh now you're playing dirty. You know I LOVE popcorn!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE! :) DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL RECIPE? Or just butter and salt? That's the best don't you think? And I love this table cloth idea...so many ideas...so little time! But I love this, thanks, Amy!

oh I really wasn't trying to play dirty... popcorn is just srsly my thing! I would rather have popcorn than chocolate any day! I make it the old fashioned way - a big heavy pot on the stove - I let it pop enough that it won't fly out - then I take the lid off - I have found that if I dump it in a brown paper bag - I can salt each batch as I add it to the bag - then I melt the butter in the pot I cooked it - and drizzle it over the corn -turn down the top of the bag and shake like crazy - it really gets the butter on all the popcorn - and then to be sure I don't miss any butter - I pour about a cup or two of the popped corn back into the pot and stir it around a few times. I taught a popcorn class for RS a year ago and I made ranch popcorn - I melted an envelope of ranch dressing mix in the butter - poured it over the popcorn (in the brown bag) and shook it like crazy - the popcorn was green and delicious - super fun for St. Patrick's day or christmas... I'm thrilled you liked my post.. thanks for all you share! Butter and salt are definitely the keys to success but removing the lid or using one of those pots that you crank are key too because if you don't remove the lid or have a way to let the steam escape you'll end up with chewy and tough popcorn instead of crisp and crunchy popcorn.

I love the answers I get from reading the Book of Mormon. I've received answer to prayers both for myself and for my family by reading it. I'm grateful for the gospel and the missionaries who take their time to spread the love of God to all His children.

My favorite Thanksgiving tradition is the pie. We make multiple types because we have some that don't like Pumpkin.

The Book of Mormon is amazing. It's principles are true! It not only changed my life but the lives of some amazing people around me. I was baptized when I was 18 years old and was alone in my decision. I HATED not having my family by my side. But I kept thinking, I know this book is true and if I keep reading it, things will be ok. The next year, I got married in the temple, once again without my family..not one single family member came even for pictures. But I remembered that if I read the Book of Mormon, things would be ok. Now, twelve years later, that book continues to change lives. It changed the lives of my mom, my two nephews, my niece and my own little boy who have all been baptized in the past two years. It is an AMAZING book that truly changes lives!

I love the simpleness and plainness in the book for mormon. I can read it and learn and gain greater understanding., further light and knowledge. Knowing what Father expects of me. It's strengthens my relationship with my Savior, my Father in heaven as well as my family here. How I can be a better mother, wife as well as sister and daughter. How to love my enemies who despise and hate me and how to have the pure love of Christ. I'm thankful for the Book of Mormon. Each time I read it, I gain so much more understanding.

1 Love the Book of Mormon for the years just before the Saviour appears to them. It reminds me that this will be what it will be like when he comes again. It helps me get through the hard times are in right now - because I know what comes next.2.I am Grateful for the Temple - it is 3 hours away and I needed answers two weeks ago - I went and got them.3.No Thanksgiving here in Australia. We live far from family so not very often do we have family gatherings - but when it is those special family gathering times - we invite others to join us. Other people like us who don't have any family close.

I was baptized a year ago last Monday (crazy!) and I love that the Book of Mormon gives us such clear direction on how to have a happy, wonderful life. I am so so so grateful for the peace and knowledge that the Book of Mormon brings me, no matter what the occasion. Everything in my life changed for the better once I read the BoM and knew it was true. Even things that didn't seem like they would, for example my family is not a fan of the church, but since I became a member and learned how to be more patient and loving - our relationships have strengthened. Not to say the Book of Mormon makes life easy - but it makes it worth living.

I love the testimony of Jesus Christ. He is prevelent through out the whole book, just as he is in our own lives.

I am grateful for family. I am grateful for my children, siblings, parents, cousins, grandparents, and the legacy of faith they have given me.

The whole month of November we have a "Give Thanks" calendar, full of activities. Like, "I am grateful for books: go to the library and pick out some new books to read." It is a great way to celebrate the whole month long!

I love that the Book of Mormon draws me in, that it speaks simply and beautifully from every page. I also love the Bible, but sometimes I feel that I need to push through reading some parts of it because they are not very compelling. But the Book of Mormon resonates with the Holy Ghost so strongly that I truly look forward to reading every day!

I love these authors and this book seems pretty awesome. I am grateful that I finally get to see my dad after 7 years! The last time we were together was my wedding and I have a feeling we'll be bawling our eyes out when we see one another. He cried so much on my wedding day...which meant I was crying too.

It was 24 years ago today that I was baptized. I am thankful for that memory. A couple weeks before, I remember calling my stake president, President Bellon, to invite him to my baptism, because he said he would be there if I let him know when it was, (he always spoke with a whistle), and asked him to speak about baptism. He of course said yes, with whistle. It was a Saturday, we met at my aunts house and we had most of my mom's siblings there with lots of cousins. I wore a white dress my aunt had made (she owned a sewing business). We went to the Downey Church building, because there was no font in our building in Swan Lake. There President Bellon spoke and my great Grandmother Olive Hall. I still remember the story she told about the Holy Ghost telling her to go home as she was walking to the store one day. She returned home and found her kitchen on fire and was able to put it out with minimal damage. Had she ignored the message her home would have been burned much more. I was baptized by my father. Later on, we returned to my aunts house to eat and play. It was indeed a special day, and a day I reflect on from time to time. It wasn't until I saw the date of this post that I remembered it was the anniversary of my baptism. I know a lot of people who don't remember much about their baptisms at the age of 8, so I am especially grateful I do remember so much. Thanks for letting me share! :)

Do you still live in Idaho? As a teenager, I lived in Virginia and went to March Valley High School. When I was eight, we were living in Lava Hot Springs and I was baptized at the Arimo Stake Center. I left 40 years ago to go to BYU and have only been back to visit.

My parents still live there but I have since moved and return to visit. I love the area and have such fond memories! Only someone who lived there would know the names I mentioned...love the connection!

I love that you have all of these wonderful detailed memories too! I remember my parents had a party at our house afterward and people gave me darling little girlie gifts, like special necklaces and stuff. I felt really special.

I love how the Book of Mormon can answer our most plaguing questions...even if it takes more time and study and pondering to find the answer than *I* think it should!

I am thankful for the gospel. Without it, I wouldn't have anything else, especially knowing that I can have my family for time and all eternity.

Thanksgiving tip: If you go into labor on Thanksgiving, eat BEFORE you go to the hospital (almost 6 years ago, I finally decided to go to the hospital just as the rolls came out of the oven...I finally got my thanksgiving dinner (a vending machine turkey sandwich) the next morning for breakfast!

I'm thankful for my husband! He was gone most of the week... out of town for business for several days and then gone for a Scout Campout. I love spending time with him in the evening when the kids are all in bed--he calms me and can make me laugh. I love the help he gives me straightening the house (and always sweeping and mopping!!) and putting the boys to bed. After he's been gone for a while I especially remember those things!

I have little boys so our traditions are pretty simple, but my absolute favorite is writing something we are grateful for on a leaf each morning and putting the leaves on our "thanksgiving tree" before Daddy goes to work. Since we've started doing this, Thanksgiving has become such a meaningful holiday, more than just a time to pig out. :) I'm grateful for traditions!

Yes, our Thanksgiving has become more meaningful as we've done something similar over the years with my own kids. Growing up I found it hard to spit out something meaningful that I was thankful for while we sat there watching the food get cold. Doing it throughout the month really helps...then we read the slips of paper near the end of the dinner...and try to guess who said they were thankful for what.

I am teaching seminary for the first time this year, and what I have come to love about teaching about the Book of Mormon is how the Savior's "arm is stretched out still"...how no matter how scattered we may be, He can always lead us back home.

Something that I love about the Book of Mormon is taken from my very favorite chapter (I have a favorite chapter not verse :o) ), which is 2 Nephi 4. In that chapter, Nephi personalizes his Savior by calling him MY Lord and God. That has helped me so much to personalize Him too. He is MY Lord, and MY Savior, and I love Him, and I KNOW that He loves me.

Which brings me to your second thing, What am I grateful for: I am so grateful for my Savior's Atonement. It is something that I use constantly.

Third: My heritage is hispanic and every Thanksgiving my mom makes red chili to go on our mashed potatoes and gravy. When we have Thanksgiving with my in-laws, I always make red chili and my hubby and I are the only ones that eat it. They don't know what they're missing. :o)

I love Moroni 9:25. Well, I love all of it, but I REALLY love this scripture. As I was finishing my YW Award with my daughter I decided to change my perspective of the Book. I am a Lamanite and made a conscious effort to add a familial relationship to each character: i.e. Brother Nephi, Father Lehi, Grandpa Benjamin. By the time I got to the end of the book I was physically sick and emotional despondent because my family was being destroyed. At this time, this verse gave me more comfort than any other verse has ever done.

I am grateful fo rmy children who also have this same feeling about the Book of Mormon.

Our tradition is to eat Pumpkin Pie for breakfast the day after Thanksgiving. LARGE pieces. Like everyone gets a quarter of a pie. We make a lot of pie. . . :)

I recently came across your blog. Your posts are very insightful and motivating for me, even though I no longer have children at home. I have enjoyed reading the wonderful comments that others have sent. How thankful I am for the gospel of Jesus Christ! I often ponder the many blessings that are mine because the gospel and they are numberless. I gained a testimony of the gospel when I was 15 when I set out to learn for myself if there was truly a God. Through many trials, I learned that there was a God and that He did watch over me and help me. When I was 20, I had a profound experience that gave me an unshakable testimony that I (a nobody) am a child of God and He loves me. This is the bedrock of my testimony and it has made all the difference in my life. I went from being a very shy, backward farm girl to a confident woman whose talents are constantly in demand in the church and at work. But I am only able to do what I do because of the tender mercies of the Lord and his willingness to bless you and help me. Thank you for your testimony of the gospel and your willingness to share it with others. It has helped to strengthen my testimony.

I loved your comments, Dianne. I also went on a similar quest around that same age and received an unshakable witness. He is truly listening and responsive to our questions..just like he was to Joseph Smith. I love your testimony of how the gospel grew you into a strong confident woman who is useful and valued of the Lord and in his work! XO

I love how the Book of Mormon brings me hope. We have had many hard things come with Mason's medical needs, many times when doctors just don't know what will happen, too many brain surgeries to count. When I read the Book of Mormon it testifies over and over that God loves us and is intimately involved in our lives. He will lighten our burdens and I need that often.

I am thankful for each of my children. They are amazing spirits and I learn so much in this parenting adventure from them! Oh to be like a little child again, so teachable and loving to everyone without respect of differences!

Thanksgiving Tradition - for as long as I can remember the children in our extended family exchange names on Thanksgiving for a Christmas gift exchange. Except that for the last too many years my children have not had their cousins in the state to exchange with because their Uncle serves our country's military. I'm so grateful that this year their cousins will be driving in for Thanksgiving AND Christmas so we can continue this tradition. I think it is these small weaving together of hearts that bond families. I know each child will spend the next month making something just right for their exchangeee. They will think more of others than of themselves.

I am so thankful for my lifestyle. Things aren't always exactly how I would want them, but when it is stormy outside, and I look at my kids, and realize that I don't have to worry about if they will eat, be warm, have medicine, I am so grateful!

I love how the Book of Mormon draws me closer to Christ. Pairing it together with the Bible makes for a deeper understanding of the Savior's life and Atonement. I'm thankful, so very thankful that after 3 years of various infertility stresses we are finally expecting a baby boy Feb. 2014!!!This year I hope to begin a new tradition on Thanksgiving day! Many family members enjoy writing, so I thought it would be a fun tradition to spend 2 min. writing down as many things (anything) to be thankful for and then clip them together for safe keeping. Hoping it is a tradition that will catch on!